Great season -- lots of interesting story lines ... outstanding matchups ahead next weekend!
The AFC field is loaded. A 10-win Miami team has to sit, which is amazing considering this is an expanded playoff field this season.
#1 KC - bye
#2 vs #7 Indy at Buffalo. The Bills may be the hottest team going into the playoffs. They've won each of their last six by double-digits. Josh Allen rapidly turned into a great NFL QB this season -- and the offseason acquisition of Stefon Diggs had to be the single greatest addition to any team. The Colts are a dangerous 7-seed. Phillip Rivers proved he's still a worthy starting QB, passing for just over 4,000 yards this season. Jonathan Taylor struggled for much of the season, but finally turned it on late. To note, I adopted the Bills for rooting interest early in the season when it became obvious my Eagles weren't going anywhere. Buffalo is a really fun team to watch. I'll pick Buffalo.
#3 vs #6 Cleveland at Pittsburgh. How about that? A division rivalry for a first round game! While I'm not a Browns fan, I am happy for the city of Cleveland. The Browns hadn't been in the playoffs since 2002! And then they lost OBJ mid-season. But they got there. The running game with Chubb and Hunt makes them click. The Steelers, on the other hand, are atypical for a Pittsburgh team, as they've struggled to run all season. Pittsburgh was the last undefeated team this season -- but their wheels started to fall off over the past month. I'll pick Cleveland -- but this is a hard game to predict.
#4 vs #5 Baltimore at Tennessee. This Ravens team didn't seem nearly on the level of past Ravens teams. And Lamar Jackson was not nearly what he was last season. Yet they somehow got there. Tennessee has the best true RB in all of football. Derrick Henry topped 2,000 yards rushing on the season -- one of only 8 players in NFL history to do so. I'll pick Tennessee.
The NFC field is certainly not as deep as the AFC. When you have a team with a losing record in the playoffs (Washington), that's going to be the case. But even teams like the Bears and Rams seem hardly inspiring. But the top of the NFC is very good.
#1 Green Bay - bye
#2 vs #7 Chicago at New Orleans. The Bears went back and forth with finding a reliable starting QB all season. But what made them better down the stretch was David Montgomery at RB. And they still do have a solid defense. The Saints are great on both sides of the ball. I believe the #1 defense statistically. Kamara on offense (assuming he returns from his Covid sit out), and it's hard to root against Drew Brees getting one more shot. I'll take the Saints.
#3 vs #6 Los Angeles Rams at Seattle. The Rams will win with defense -- if they win. Aaron Donald is still the best in the game. But the offense is good one game, bad the next -- much like Goff at QB. Unsure if he's set to return from injury -- they do need him (edit: he's questionable for next weekend). They are pretty banged up offensively. Russell Wilson had another MVP caliber season (though I think Rodgers will win MVP). DK Metcalf has emerged as the top WR in the NFL not named Devante Adams. That Seahawks duo is capable of carrying Seattle quite a ways. I'll take Seattle to win.
#4 vs #5 Tampa Bay at Washington. At times, Tampa played like one of the best teams in the NFL. Other times, not good at all. Kind of how Brady's season went. He had some clunkers, but he also had some games that were as good as he's ever played. Very interesting matchup against what has become one of the best defensive lines in the NFL -- the Football Team from Washington. On paper, Tampa Bay is the team to pick. Why do I have a feeling Washington is going to pull the upset and make it real hard on Brady? I'll take the team formerly known as the Redskins. But it's darn tough picking against Brady in the playoffs.
I can see any of these teams winning the Super Bowl: KC, Buffalo, Tennessee, Green Bay, New Orleans, and Seattle. I don't believe in Pittsburgh from the AFC nor Tampa Bay from the NFC.
The AFC field is loaded. A 10-win Miami team has to sit, which is amazing considering this is an expanded playoff field this season.
#1 KC - bye
#2 vs #7 Indy at Buffalo. The Bills may be the hottest team going into the playoffs. They've won each of their last six by double-digits. Josh Allen rapidly turned into a great NFL QB this season -- and the offseason acquisition of Stefon Diggs had to be the single greatest addition to any team. The Colts are a dangerous 7-seed. Phillip Rivers proved he's still a worthy starting QB, passing for just over 4,000 yards this season. Jonathan Taylor struggled for much of the season, but finally turned it on late. To note, I adopted the Bills for rooting interest early in the season when it became obvious my Eagles weren't going anywhere. Buffalo is a really fun team to watch. I'll pick Buffalo.
#3 vs #6 Cleveland at Pittsburgh. How about that? A division rivalry for a first round game! While I'm not a Browns fan, I am happy for the city of Cleveland. The Browns hadn't been in the playoffs since 2002! And then they lost OBJ mid-season. But they got there. The running game with Chubb and Hunt makes them click. The Steelers, on the other hand, are atypical for a Pittsburgh team, as they've struggled to run all season. Pittsburgh was the last undefeated team this season -- but their wheels started to fall off over the past month. I'll pick Cleveland -- but this is a hard game to predict.
#4 vs #5 Baltimore at Tennessee. This Ravens team didn't seem nearly on the level of past Ravens teams. And Lamar Jackson was not nearly what he was last season. Yet they somehow got there. Tennessee has the best true RB in all of football. Derrick Henry topped 2,000 yards rushing on the season -- one of only 8 players in NFL history to do so. I'll pick Tennessee.
The NFC field is certainly not as deep as the AFC. When you have a team with a losing record in the playoffs (Washington), that's going to be the case. But even teams like the Bears and Rams seem hardly inspiring. But the top of the NFC is very good.
#1 Green Bay - bye
#2 vs #7 Chicago at New Orleans. The Bears went back and forth with finding a reliable starting QB all season. But what made them better down the stretch was David Montgomery at RB. And they still do have a solid defense. The Saints are great on both sides of the ball. I believe the #1 defense statistically. Kamara on offense (assuming he returns from his Covid sit out), and it's hard to root against Drew Brees getting one more shot. I'll take the Saints.
#3 vs #6 Los Angeles Rams at Seattle. The Rams will win with defense -- if they win. Aaron Donald is still the best in the game. But the offense is good one game, bad the next -- much like Goff at QB. Unsure if he's set to return from injury -- they do need him (edit: he's questionable for next weekend). They are pretty banged up offensively. Russell Wilson had another MVP caliber season (though I think Rodgers will win MVP). DK Metcalf has emerged as the top WR in the NFL not named Devante Adams. That Seahawks duo is capable of carrying Seattle quite a ways. I'll take Seattle to win.
#4 vs #5 Tampa Bay at Washington. At times, Tampa played like one of the best teams in the NFL. Other times, not good at all. Kind of how Brady's season went. He had some clunkers, but he also had some games that were as good as he's ever played. Very interesting matchup against what has become one of the best defensive lines in the NFL -- the Football Team from Washington. On paper, Tampa Bay is the team to pick. Why do I have a feeling Washington is going to pull the upset and make it real hard on Brady? I'll take the team formerly known as the Redskins. But it's darn tough picking against Brady in the playoffs.
I can see any of these teams winning the Super Bowl: KC, Buffalo, Tennessee, Green Bay, New Orleans, and Seattle. I don't believe in Pittsburgh from the AFC nor Tampa Bay from the NFC.
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